The Vietnam Women’s Union (VWU) in cooperation with the Vietnam Association for Intellectual Women (VAFIW) hosted the 8th Conference of the International Network of Women Engineers and Scientist – Asia and Pacific Nations (INWES-APNN 2018) at the Center for Women and Development from 18 to 20 October 2018.

With the theme "Women Scientists for Sustainable Development in the Digital Age", the conference was aimed at promoting cooperation and experience - sharing among female scientists in the Asia-Pacific region, contributing actively to the sustainable development of the region and the world. The event was held successfully attracting the participation of more than 200 delegates who are female scientists and intellectuals from 15 countries and territory, representatives of line ministries, agencies and organizations of Vietnam.

Addressing at the Conference, Assoc. Prof., PhD. Nguyen Thi Thu Ha, Member of the Party’s Central Committee, VWU President identified the Fourth Industrial Revolution could fundamentally change the way people live, work and interact; offer many opportunities for nations, but also poses many challenges that directly affect the Sustainable Development Goals. She hoped that the Conference would stimulate new ideas and inspiration to promote women’s potential and creativeness.

Highly appreciating the goal of the International Network of Women Engineers and Scientist, PhD. Tran Van Tung - Deputy Minister, Head of the Committee for Women’s Advancement, Ministry of Science and Technology affirmed the important position and role of women in all aspects of life, especially in the field of science and technology including environment, sustainable development, gender equality and start-up, innovation, creativity and especially in encouraging girls to learn STEM (science, technology, mathematics) to adapt to the changes of society, etc.

Vice Minister of Science and Technology Tran Van Tung speaks at the Conference

On behalf of the APNN Network, Prof.PhD. Chia-Li Wu, APNN President, spoke highly about the hospitality of the VWU and the VAFIW. Ms. Chia-Li Wu said that this was the Conference which attracted the attention of the largest and most diverse ever international participants in the APNN conferences so far.

APNN President highly appreciates VWU’s and VAIW’s hospitality

The Conference has three thematic workshops on: (1) Gender equality in science and technology in theFourth Industrial Revolution; (2) Nutrition and food safety; (3) Disaster risk management and climate change adaptation. Those topics are at high attention of the region and the world, as well as linked to the UN Sustainable Development Goals.

The Conference adopted the Hanoi Declaration, which expressed the concern, vision ofINWES-APNN members and their commitment in promoting women’s participation in and contribution to science and technology. The Hanoi Declaration highlighted the APNN’s achievements; recognized the importance of female scientists to the growth and sustainable development of economies in the Fourth Industrial Revolution, and the necessity for narrowing gender gaps in science and technology; identified challenges, and affirmed the commitments and partnership in the future.

VWU President (first from the left) and participants visit the Exhibition "Women in Science and Innovation"

In the framework of the conference, the Exhibition entitled "Women in Science and Innovation" was taken place at the Conference’s venue to introduce a number of scientific and technological products of Vietnamese women, demonstrating the contribution of Vietnamese women in general and women scientists in particular to the socio-economic development of the country.

VAFIW President delivers closing remarks

On the sidelines of the conference, the international delegates had a chance to visit the Vietnam Women’s Museum and Ninh Binh province for better insights of the Vietnamese culture and women.

APNN is the International Network of Women Engineers and Scientist – Asia and Pacific Nations which was established in 2011 by the International Network of Women Engineers and Scientists - INWES. To date, APNN has 13 countries and territory (Australia, Bangladesh, India, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Mongolia, Nepal, New Zealand, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Taiwan and Vietnam). The Vietnam Association for Intellectual Women (VAFIW), an affiliate of the Vietnam Women's Union joined APNN in 2013 as the representative of Vietnam.

"... From the beginning of the first century A.D., when the two Trung Sisters rose up to fight the enemy and save the nation, until now, whenever our country has faced danger, our women have contributed whatever they could toward the cause of national liberation.

Our people are grateful that our mothers from South and North alike have borne and raised our nation's generation of heroes....

Under the Socialist system, tens of thousands of women have become specialists in different fields and, as cadre, serve as directors and vice-directors of factories, leaders of farming cooperatives, presidents of People’s Committees, and general secretaries of Party Cells....

And so, the women of Vietnam from ancient times until now, from South to North, from young to old, are truly heroes ..."

(Excerpted from President Ho Chi Minh's speech on the 36th Anniversary of Vietnam Women's Union 20 October 1966)